The seven best central defenders in the Premier League right now | OneFootball

The past weekend of Premier League fixtures saw central defenders take centre stage.

Cristian Romero put in a heroic display for ten-man Tottenham as they held out for a 1-0 win at Luton Town, before William Saliba shut down Erling Haaland in terrific fashion as Arsenal triumphed over reigning champions Manchester City.

That got us thinking, who have been the best central defenders in the Premier League so far this season?

Here is our top seven…

1 – William Saliba

A close call at the top, but we’re going for Saliba ahead of the competition following his heroic display against Man City on Sunday. The Frenchman has been a revelation since entering the Arsenal first team, with his combination of strength and pace helping his side to become realistic title winners.

2 – Cristian Romero

The World Cup winner has played a massive part in a rejuvinated Spurs side who sit top of the league heading into the international break under new boss Ange Postecoglou. The Argentinian has been criticised for being rash at times in the past but has been terrific this season, putting in a man of the match display against Luton which led his manager to label Lionel Messi a “good judge” for claiming Romero is the best defender in the world.

3 – Ruben Dias

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A mainstay of Pep Guardiola’s magnificent Manchester City side, Ruben Dias continues to prove himself as one of the Premier League’s best defenders despite an uncharacteristic mistake by netting an own goal in the defeat to Wolves. He provides calmness and consistency at the heart of the City defence alongside a rotating partner alongside him.

4 – Virgil Van Dijk

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One of the best central defenders in the world for many years now, Virgil van Dijk may not be at the very peak of his powers compared with his performances in Liverpool’s Premier League winning season but is still undoubtedly one of the very best defenders the Premier League has to offer. His aerial dominance and pace in recovery is vital to the success of the way Liverpool play.

5 – Joachim Andersen

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The Crystal Palace man’s inclusion might come as a surprise to some, but Andersen has been brilliant for Roy Hodgson’s side so far this season. Palace have conceded just seven goals with the Denmark international at the heart of defence, with his match-winning display in a 1-0 win at Old Trafford the highlight of what has been a superb start to the campaign.

6 – Lewis Dunk

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The Brighton man is deservedly getting the recognition he deserves by being included in Gareth Southgate’s England setup. Magnificent on the ball, Dunk also has the defensive awareness to be considered one of the very best in his position and has been crucial to Brighton’s recent success.

7 – Thiago Silva

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At 39, the Chelsea man is still proving himself to be one of the top defenders in the Premier League despite his age and the struggles of his team in recent times. He provides stability in a team which desperately needs it and while he may no longer be at his athletic peak, his reliability will be key if Chelsea are to enjoy a better season than their last one.

Honorable mentions

Craig Dawson has been excellent for Wolves, shutting down Erling Haaland completely in their shock win over Man City earlier this season. Sven Botman deserves credit but has missed much of the season through injury, while his defensive partner Fabian Schar has also been in fine form. John Stones would ordinarily make this list but has only just returned from injury, and new additions to the league in Micky van de Ven and Pau Torres also deserve praise. Gabriel was dropped at the start of the season but has made a fine impact on his return to the Arsenal team, while Marc Guehi has also been excellent for a resolute Palace side.